Trunk.



G. H. WHEARY. TRUNK. APPLICATION FILED 001227, 1911.

G. H. WHEARY. 'l

TRUNKx APPLICATION FILED 00T. 27, 1911.

1,037,696. Patented Sept. 3,1912.

.3 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

4 uamvwk @7 wm G. H. WHEARY.

TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 27, 1911.

1,037,696, Patented sept. s, v191.2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. y (2/@fan JHM-@M y WMMW/M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORG-E H. W'HEARY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE HARTMANNTRUNK COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

TRUNK.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3,1912.

To r/,ZZ whom 'it may concern-s Be it known that I, GEORGE H. IVI-Inter,a citizen of the United States, and resident of Racine, in the county ofRacine and State of llisconsin, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Trunks, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trunks, more particularly to theparticular class of trunks known as wardrobe trunks.

Heretofore in the use of a trunk of the above character, andparticularly when used as a steamer trunk, it was customary to place thetrunk beneath the berth in a stateroom, the trunk being of such reducedheight as to permit this to be done. The objection, however, has beenthat when trunks of the usual construction are so placed beneath theberth, they are inaccessible to the removal of articles or traystherefrom, and particularly the removal of a wardrobe section, unlessthe trunk is pulled out from beneath the berth. This is due to the factprincipally that these trunks as heretofore constructed have beenequipped with a hinged lid or cover which opens upwardly, and with thewardrobe section also opening upwardly.

It is the primary object of my invention to so construct a wardrobetrunk that access can be gained to the interior thereof without pullingthe trunk from beneath a bed or steamer berth, and also of suchconstruction that the wardrobe section can be pulled out partially forgaining access to the contents thereof, or pulled out entirely clear ofthe bed or berth, and yet be still connected to the trunk and be capableof adjust-ment to a vertical position immediately alongside of the bedor berth; or can be entirely removed from its connection with the trunkand set up at any convenient point in a bedroom or stateroom.

lVith the above primary object, and other incidental objects in view,the invention consists of the devices and parts, or the equivalentsthereof, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of thetrunk, with the front hinged cover or lid thrown down, and showing infull lines the wardrobe section in position within the trunk, and indotted lines the said section adjusted to its vertical position for useas a wardrobe; Fig. 2 is a vertical sect-ion, on an enlarged scale,through a fragment of the trunk; F ig. 3 is an end elevation showing thefront cover of the trunk open and the wardrobe section ad justed to itsvertical position; Fig. t is a plan view of the parts when adjusted asshown in Fig. 3, and also showing one of the grips and one of the trayspartly pulled out; and F ig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the meansfor detachably holding the wardrobe section, when said section isadjusted to its vertical position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 9 indicates the trunk body, whichis of proper height to 'conveniently iit beneath a bed, or beneath theberth of a stateroom. The interior of the trunk is divided aboutcentrally by a horizontal partition 10 into upper and lower divisions,the upper division, in turn, being subdivided by vertical partitions,into a series of compartments adapted to receive either open trays 12,or small grips 13, or for that matter any desirable box or holdingdevice, or articles. Where several persons are traveling together, itmay be eXceedingl y convenient to have inthe upper compartments thesmall grips 13, instead of the trays, so that each person may be able tohave his individual grip, and thereby the convenient use of articlescontained therein. The large lower compartment contains the wardrobesection 14. The upper side or top of this sectionis open, and this openside is uppermost when the section is in proper position within thetrunk, while said open side faces in a direction away from the trunk,when the wardrobe section is adjusted to vertical position. It will beseen from the drawings that the front side 15 of the trunk constitutesthe hinged lid thereof, the hinges being at the bottom of the lid, sothat when the lid is released it can be thrown down to a horizontalposition.

On the under side of thev wardrobe section are rails 16 16, preferablyof corrugated metal, said rails, -when the front hinged lid is throwndownwardly to a horizontal position, bearing against the said hinged lidand forming a slide for the wardrobe section, when the latter is drawnoutwardly. Also secured to the under side of the wardrobe section, nearone end thereof, and preferably at the center, is a hook 17 whichengages an elongated bail or loop 18 secured to the inner side of thehinged front lid. lllhen, therefore, this hinged lid is turneddownwardly, and the wardrobe section is pulled outwardly, the said hookand loop cooperate to form a detachable connection between the wardrobesection and the hinged lid. ln other words, the wardrobe section can bepulled outwardly upon the down turned front lid until it is clear of theinterior of the trunk, and said section can then be turned upwardly tothe vertical position as illustrated in igs. 3 and l and 5, and bydotted lines in Fig. 1, the hoolr and loop acting as a hinge. At thesame time, if it is desired to entirely remove the wardrobe section andplace it in an upright position at some point non-ad jacent to thetrunk, this can be readily accomplished merely by disconnecting the hookfrom the loop.

lWhen the wardrobe section is turned upwardlv to its vertical positionshown in Figs. 3 and Ll, it will be seen that a firm supportv isprovided therefor throughout substantially onehalf of the width thereofby downwardly projecting` portions from the hinged front lid 15, andthat also the outer edge of the end piece of the wardrobe section whichforms the bottom of the section, when said section is in its verticalposition, is rmly supported by means of a projecting flange 19, whichflange forms a supporting leg. lt is desirable when the wardrobe sectionis thus adjusted to its vertical position, that said section be bracedand supported at the back thereof. For this purpose. 1 provide a strap20, preferably of metal. which is hinged at one end to the hinged lid orcover 15, and its free end is adapted to engage catch 21 on the back ofthe wardrobe section. Then not in use this brace strap is turned downagainst the face of the hinged lid or cover, and when in use is turnedupwardly so that its free end is caused to engage the catch 21, asclearly shown in Fig. t and by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The trunkconstruction also contemplates a novel connection between the upper edgeof the front hinged lid or cover and the top of the trunk. Ordinarily,where trunks have been provided with a front hinged lid, instead of ahinged top cover, a right-angular metallic strip is hinged to the upperedge of said front lid. The horizontal member of this strip overlies thetop of the trunk and is locked thereto. This particular construction isopen to the objection that a joint is formed on the top of the trunkwhich opens rearwardly and forms a space for the free entrance of dust,dirt and moisture to the interior of the trunk. This particular formalso would not be practicable for use in connection with av wardrobesection arranged as shown in the accompanying drawings, inasmuch as whenthe front lid or cover is thrown down, the right-angular strip isnecessarily carried therewith, and one member of the angle is leftprojectingl ujiwardly, and hence would act a an obstruction or stopagainst the wardrobe section. being pulled outwardly such a distance asto clear the interior of the trunk. 1n other words, the wardrobesectioncould only be pulled outl to the extent permitted by contact of saidsection with the, projecting flange. 'l hare, therefore, in the presentinvention provided for an arrangement and disposition of the angularstrip whereby the trunk is not only rendered absolutely dust proof andwatern proof, but at the saine time the angular strip does not interferein the least with the complete pulling' outwardly of the ward robesection. lilith this end in view, instead of hinging one member of theangular strip 92 to the front cover or lid, and permitting` the cth-cror horizontal member of said strip to overlie the top of the trunk, lhinge one member of said strip to the top of the trunk, and permit theother member of said strip to overlie the front lid 15, and to be lockedthereto by means of the locking mechanism 9.3 and the locking catchesQ4.

rllhat portion of the trunk which is immediately below the horizontal.member of the angular strip is depressed, as indicated by the numeral25, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each hinge 26 which hingedlyconnects the horizontal member of tlie angular strip to the top of thetrunk, has one leaf thereof connected to said top of the trunk. and theother leaf thereof to the horizontal member of the angular strip. Thishori- Zontal member of the angular strip is made up of the forward andrear metallic portions 27 and 2S and the under connecting portion 29.This under connecting portion forms an enlargement or filling blockwhich effectually [ills and closes the depression 25. Ilhisconstruction, it will be obvious, not only avoids the joint on the topof the trunk before referred to, and thereby renders the trunk dustproofand waterproof, but furthermore, when the front lid or cover is turneddownwardly, no upwardly extending portion left acting as a stop againstthe full or complete withdrawal horizontally of the wardrobe section.Also when the angular strip is turned upwardly for the purpose ofpermitting the dropping of the front hinged lid or cover, said hingedlid or cover may be permitted to remain open, i desired, and yet thecontents of the trunk will be protected against dust entering throughthe top of the trunk. lt will furthermore be noted that the end edges ofthe 1 hinged front lid or cover are provided with projecting tlanges 30which o-verlap the ends of the trunk, and are secured to said ends bymeans of the catches 31.

I have described my invention as possessing particular advantages in itsuse as a steamer trunk. It will be understood, however, that theseadvantages are present in the use of the invention generally, as forinstance when it is used in a hotel where a person may desire either tohave the wardrobe section adjacent to and connected to the trunk, whensaid section is adjusted to a vertical position, and which would be desirable when the trunk is placed under a bed; or entirely removed fromthe trunk and placed in some convenient position in tne room. It mayalso be used as an auto mobile trunk, and carried either on therunning-board, or on the rear end of the automobile.

rIhe wardrobe section is equipped with a complete hanger system, asclearly shown in the drawings.

What I claim is:

l. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of the trunk body having alongitudinal space therein, a front door or lid hinged at its lower edgeto the trunk body and opening downwardly, and a wardrobe section withinthe longitudinal space of the trunk. and having a hinged and slidableconnection with the front lid of the trunk, said wardrobe section, whenthe front lid is turned downwardly, adapted to be pulled outwardlyhorizontally through the front opening of the trunk to clear theinterior of the trunk, and onto the down-turned front lid, and to beswung upwardly on the hinged connection to a vertical position adjacentto the front side of the trunk, with its end resting upon and supportedby the front lid.

2. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of the trunk body having alongitudinal space therein, a front door or lid hinged at its lower edgeto the trunk body and opening downwardly, a wardrobe section within thelongitudinal space of the trunk, and a hinged slidable connectionbetween the bottoni of the wardrobe section and the inner side of thehinged lid or cover, the parts being so arranged and constructed thatwhen the hinged lid or cover is turned downwardly, said wardrobe sectioncan be pulled outwardly horizontally through the front opening of thetrunk to clear the interior of the trunk, and onto the clown-turnedfront lid, and to be swung upwardly on the hinged connection to avertical position adjacent to the front side of the trunk, with its endresting upon and :supported by the front lid.

3. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of the trunk body having alongitudinal space therein, a front door or lid hinged at its lower edgeto the trunk body and open ing downwardly, and a wardrobe section withinthe longitudinal space of the trunk, and having a releasable hinged andslidable connection with the front lid of the trunk, the parts being soarranged and constructed that when the hinged lid or cover is turneddownwardly, said wardrobe section can be pulled outwardly horizontallythrough the front opening of the trunk and onto the down-turned frontlid of the trunk and to be swung upwardly on the hinged connection to avertical position adjacent to the front side of said trunk, with its endresting upon and supported by the front lid.

4. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of the trunk body having alongitudinal space therein, a front door or lid hinged at its lower edgeto the trunk body and opening downwardly, said lid provided o-n itsinner face with a loop, and a wardrobe section within the longitudinalspace of the trunk, and provided on its under side with a hook adaptedto engage the loop of the trunk lid, said wardrobe section, when thefront lid is turned downwardly, adapted to be pulled outwardly to clearthe interior of the trunk, and to be swung upwardly to a verticalposition on the hinged connection formed by the cooperation of the hookand loop.

5. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of the trunk body having alongitudinal space therein, a front door or lid hinged at its lower edgeto the trunk body and opening downwardly, an open top wardrobe sectionwithin the longitudinal space of the trunk and adapted, when the trunklid is turned downwardly, to be pulled outwardly on said trunk lid, andto be turned. to a vertical position thereon, with its open top facingin a direction away from the trunk, and a brace strap hinged at one endto the inner side of the hinged lid or cover, and having its free endadapted to engage a catch on the back side of the wardrobe section.

6. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of the trunk body having alongitudinal space therein, a front door or lid hinged at its lower edgeto the trunk body and opening downwardly, and a wardrobe section withinthe longitudinal space of the trunk and adapted to be pulled outwardlyon the hinged lid or cover when the latter is turned downwardly, andprovided at its outer side, and at one end, with a projecting iange orfoot, constructed to act as a support for the projecting portion of thewardrobe section when the latter is pulled outwardly and turned upwardlyto a vertical position.

7. In a trunk, the combination of the trunk body, a front side hinged atits lower edge to the trunk body and opening downwardly, the top of thetrunk extending to and abutting against the hinged front side when thelatter is turned up to closing position, and said top being providedalong the outer side of its front portion and longitudinally thereofwith a depression, an angular strip having its horizontal member hingedto the top of the trunk, and its vertical member adapted to overlie ortit over and to be locked to the hinged front side of the trunk, the`said horizontal member of the angular strip being formed or provided onits under side, and longitudinally thereof, with an enlargement orthickened portion adapted to fill the depression in the top of thetrunk, when the horizontal member of the angular strip is turneddownwardly Lo its norma-l horizontal position.

8. A wardrobe trunk comprising a body portion having a side opening anda front lid therefor, and a wardrobe section positioned within the trunkbody and adapted to be pulled outwardly horizontally, when the front lidis turned downwardly, through the front opening of the trunk, to clearthe interior of the trunk, and onto the downturned front lid, and to beswung upwardly to a vertical position adjacent to the from side of thetrunk, with its end resting upon and supported by the lid, andsupporting mechanism between the wardrobe section and the front lid orcover, adapted to be in operative engagement releasably with said 30parts when the wardrobe section is in vertical position, whereby saidwardrobe section is supported in its vertical posit-ion.

9. A wardrobe trunk, comprising a body portion having a side opening anda front 35 lid therefor', a wardrobe section and a connecting mechanismbetween the trunk and the wardrobe section, said mechanism being soconstructed as to adapt the section to be pulled outwardly, when thefront lid is 49 vertical position adjacent to the front side 45 of thetrunk, with its end resting upon and supported by the front lid or coverln testimony whereof, I atliX my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE H. WHEARY.

lllitnesses C. H. KEENEY, KATHERINE HOLT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

